Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to penalise and expose rogue landlords; and what progress has been made on the register of such landlords since the Housing and Planning Act 2016 came into force.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Local authorities have a range of enforcement powers to protect tenants from landlords that do not fulfil their legal obligations. The Housing Act 2004 gives powers to local authorities to regulate and enforce standards in the private rented sector. The Housing and Planning Act 2016 further introduced civil penalties of up to £30,000 and banning orders for use against the worst and most persistent offenders. Legislation also extended rent repayment orders which require a landlord to repay rent when they have not complied with the law.
In April 2018, using powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, we also introduced a national database of rogue landlords and property agents. Where a landlord has received a banning order the local authority must place them on the database. Where the landlord has received a conviction for a banning order offence or two or more civil penalties for housing related offences then the local authority has discretion to make an entry.
As set out in the Queen’s Speech, the Government has committed to bringing in a Better Deal for Renters to deliver a fairer and more effective rental market that works for both tenants and landlords. This includes bringing forward reforms to drive improvements in standards in rented accommodation, ensuring well targeted, effective enforcement that drives out criminal landlords.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if will make an assessment of the potential merits of adding the Black Country Flag to those displayed on County Flags Day.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government attaches great importance to the history and traditions of this country and we recognise that the tapestry of our historic counties is one of the bonds that draws the nation together. The flying of the registered flags in Parliament Square to mark Historic County Flags Day is the centrepiece of this national celebration of the role of the historic counties. We have no plans to celebrate or raise in Parliament Square regional flags like those of the Black Country, though we recognise the historical significance of such areas and would welcome local partners celebrating them if they choose to do so.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Answer of 20 April 2021 to Question 178793 on the Prudential Framework, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the prudential framework for dealing with investments made by Thurrock Council.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Local authorities are responsible for their own commercial investment strategies and are accountable to their electorate. Nevertheless, in making investments, authorities must ensure they comply with the Prudential Framework, including the four statutory codes.
Recent changes to the operation of the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) are designed to stop local authorities from accessing PWLB borrowing if they are planning on undertaking investments primarily for yield. Government is also working closely with CIPFA on its revised statutory Prudential Code. Further, Government is currently reviewing all elements of the Prudential Framework to ensure they are fit for purpose.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Answer of 20 April 2021 to Question 178793 on the Prudential Framework, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the prudential framework for dealing with the investments by Thurrock Council.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt. hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities in England that have invested in funds of (a) Greensill Capital and (b) Archegos Capital Management.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Under the Prudential Framework, which governs how councils borrow and invest, local authorities are free to determine their own capital strategies and have wide freedoms to invest provided they do so within the bounds of the Framework. This is on the basis that authorities are best placed to make local capital decisions and to ensure their own prudent financial management. It also ensures that councils remain accountable for their decisions
The Government has responsibility for the Prudential Framework to ensure it remains fit for purpose in driving sound investment decisions and constraining risk. However, the Government does not play any role in local decision making. Commensurate to its stewardship role, the Government does collect aggregate data on local authority investments, but does not collect data on investments in individual funds.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, apart from Case Studies A, B and C in the Liverpool City Council: Best Value inspection report published on 24 March 2021, (a) how many other case studies were undertaken and (b) were they reported to his Department.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
I am not aware of any additional case studies that were produced during the independent Best Value Inspection of Liverpool City Council.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that emergency powers granted to local authorities during the covid-19 outbreak are not being used to avoid local consultation and opposition on planning decisions.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government has made clear that local planning authorities should continue to prioritise decision-making during these challenging times to ensure that the planning system continues to function, especially when this will support the local economy.
Local planning authorities are still required to undertake a formal period of public consultation of no less than 21 days, prior to deciding a planning application. Until the consultation period has closed the local planning authority may not determine the application.
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure, Listed Buildings and Environmental Impact Assessment) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 has introduced temporary regulations to supplement the existing statutory publicity arrangements. Local planning authorities (and applicants of EIA development under the Town and Country Planning Act) now have the flexibility to take other reasonable steps to publicise applications if they cannot discharge the specific requirements for site notices, neighbour notifications or newspaper publicity.
The Government has also introduced legislation to allow council committee meetings to be held virtually for a temporary period. The Planning Advisory Service has produced guidance for local planning authorities on how to adapt their planning services in response to Covid-19, including information on planning committees.
These measures will ensure sufficient public participation in the planning process is maintained.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the outstanding number of dwellings for which planning permission has been granted.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
As of 29 May 2020, there were circa 894,000 residential units with detailed planning permission granted on sites which had not yet been completed. Of these, circa 457,000 have started on site and circa 438,000 are yet to start on site (outstanding). Of those yet to start, circa 356,000 are progressing towards a start.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to secure the reopening of public lavatories.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
We strongly encourage public toilets to be open wherever possible. We’ve published guidance to help operators ensure facilities are safe where they are open including increasing cleaning of touch points
The Government has published guidance on safer public spaces. It includes advice, information and examples of the potential interventions that can be used in public places to facilitate social distancing in areas of higher footfall such as in parks (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safer-public-places-urban-centres-and-green-spacescovid-19). Owners and operators are advised to implement cleaning protocols to limit coronavirus transmission in public places. It is advised that touch points (e.g. handrails and gates) should be particular areas of focus for increased cleaning.
We have now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an unringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package recognises the additional costs and pressures on finances councils are facing as a result of the current crisis. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to making sure councils, including upper and lower tier authorities, have the resources they need to support their communities through this challenging time. Local authorities are best placed to understand how to meet the major COVID-19 service pressures and spending needs in their local area, this funding will not be ringfenced. The funding can be used across all local services facing pressures.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the regulations under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.
Answered by Simon Clarke
On 3 November 2019 we announced we were contracting with the British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop the Code of Practice as a British Standard. Work with BSI commenced in December 2019, and they are now convening a group of key stakeholders, representing consumers and the industry, to write the Code.
We have previously committed to developing the final Code this year, and prior to this a full public consultation will take place to give the parking industry, the public and other interested parties the opportunity to have a say. Now, our priority is to work with local authorities and the parking industry to respond to Covid-19.